Barley is the predominant cereal crop from the rolling fields of southern Scotland and northwards over the Highlands. In fact, spring and winter barley account for approximately one-third of the total grown in the UK. Most years, more than half the harvest supplies the Scottish whisky industry as a crucial ingredient.
At the start of the whisky-making process, the barley germinates and its starch content turns into sugar. Then, the producers have to dry the malt. If done over a hotbed of peat, the finished product takes on smoky notes.
Next, grinding or milling the dried barley turns it into a coarse flour called grist. The grist must be of the right grade; if too rough, it will not be possible to extract all the sugar. Conversely, if it is too fine, it clumps together – also impeding full extraction.
Following centuries-old traditions, the distillers then pass piping hot natural spring water through the grist. In doing so, the malt sugar dissolves and yields a naturally sweet liquid extract known as worth. Depending on weather conditions, the distinct aroma of mashed cereal is detectable for miles around the distillery.
A sequence of three mashings uses progressively hotter water each time – at about 65, 80 and 95 degrees Celsius – to extract the maximum. Between cycles, the worth passes through a cooler. During the final iteration, the extra sugar yield is relatively low, so the proceeds go to the next batch.
In the cooler, after mashing, the sugar solution must cool down to 20°C. Then, in a large vessel called a washback, the addition of yeast causes the worth to ferment. To give an idea of the scale, some 50 kilogrammes of yeast are necessary for 15,000 litres of worth.
During the fermentation, lids on the washbacks reduce the entry of bacteria to minimise the risk of the alcohol turning into vinegar. Characteristically, the vessels have a horizontal blade on top, which rotates and cuts the foam.
Importantly, wash boxes are resistant to fungi. While Oregon pine or cypress wood materials are traditional, they require regular cleaning and maintenance. For this reason, some distilleries prefer to use stainless steel vessels.
As the yeast causes the natural sugar to ferment into alcohol, carbon dioxide gas bubbles off. Most breweries and larger distilleries can collect this by-product for industrial use. However, recycling the gas is not economically viable for smaller malt whisky distilleries.
After two to four days, the beer – or wash, as the distillers call it – contains around eight to nine per cent ABV (alcohol by volume). At this point, the fermented worth is ready to pass to the first distillation(-hyperlink). Finally, the residue produced at this stage, mash tun, often goes to local farmers to feed cattle.
Download our 2021 whisky investment brochure. Including comparative market research, highlighting trends in the whisky market.
Download our quick guide to investing with us – Instant Download – Start your whisky investment journey.
Find pricing, delivery and availability information for the worlds finest whiskies, updated daily.
A look at the performance of whiskey as an investment compared to more traditional investments.
Download our 2021 whisky investment brochure. Including comparative market research, highlighting trends in the whisky market.
Download our quick guide to investing with us – Instant Download – Start your whisky investment journey.
Find pricing, delivery and availability information for the worlds finest whiskies, updated daily.
A look at the performance of whiskey as an investment compared to more traditional investments.
You own individual whisky casks 100% outright.
Casks are stored in secure HMRC government bonded warehouses.
There’s no VAT to pay as duty’s suspended.
You’re not reliant on a single fund manager or company to perform.
If the bonded warehouse goes bust, it has no impact your investment.
It’s fully insured against theft, accidental damage.
You own individual whisky casks 100% outright.
Casks are stored in secure HMRC government bonded warehouses.
There’s no VAT to pay as duty’s suspended.
You’re not reliant on a single fund manager or company to perform.
If the bonded warehouse goes bust, it has no impact your investment.
It’s fully insured against theft, accidental damage.
The UKV international whisky investment guide will teach you all you need to know about the world of whisky, from expanding your knowledge to making your first investment.
The UKV international whisky investment guide will teach you all you need to know about the world of whisky, from expanding your knowledge to making your first investment.
We work in conjunction with a large network of brokers, merchants and traders to source and draw stock from when in search of an unusual or highly sought rare whisky.
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